Larian has dropped their final big patch – time to dive into the changes one last time!
Baldur's Gate 3 just got its latest major update, introducing long-awaited features and exciting new gameplay elements. Patch 8, released on Tuesday, April 15, brings sweeping changes that redefine the experience for adventurers everywhere.
Patch 8 is now live on PC, Mac, PS5, and Xbox! Cross-Play 12 Subclasses Photo Mode Xbox Series S Split Screen Modding Toolkit Update Bug Fixes & ImprovementsRead the full patch notes for our final major patch: https://t.co/4bESTVVdH6 pic.twitter.com/4SxEIZkEV1
— Baldur's Gate 3 (@baldursgate3) April 15, 2025
Cross-Play And Full Multiplayer Integration
The highlight of Patch 8 is the long-awaited introduction of cross-play, uniting players across all platforms. Whether you're wandering the lands of Faerûn on PC, PS5, Mac or Xbox, the new system ensures seamless multiplayer sessions with friends – without any hassle, this time.
Cross-platform progression is fully supported, meaning that your progress and achievements will travel with you wherever you log in. Joining games with friends is as easy as creating a cross-play lobby via the Larian Network, allowing for fluid connections between platforms without limitations.
Good news for players of the Xbox Series S: local split-screen co-op is finally possible.
12 New Subclasses: Expanding Gameplay Possibilities
Patch 8 introduces an all-new subclass to each of Baldur's Gate 3's existing professions, bringing new abilities, animations, and storytelling options to enhance gameplay. Here's a look at what's in store:
- Bard – College of Glamour: Command enemies and heal allies with abilities like Mantle of Inspiration and Mantle of Majesty, combining charm and strategy.
- Barbarian – Path of Giants: Channel giant strength to increase carry capacity and deal massive damage with enhanced throw attacks through Giant’s Rage.
- Cleric – Death Domain: Wield necrotic magic, summon dark cantrips like Toll the Dead, and even explode nearby corpses for devastating effects.
- Druid – Circle of Stars: Embrace celestial power through Starry Forms like the Archer, Chalice, or Dragon, each tailored to unique playstyles.
- Paladin – Oath of the Crown: Uphold law and order with abilities like Divine Allegiance to protect your party and Righteous Clarity to guide companions.
- Fighter – Arcane Archer: Master both magic and marksmanship, using spells to banish foes to the Feywild or blind enemies with psychic-infused arrows.
- Monk – Drunken Master: Recover Ki from drinking, disorient enemies with Intoxicating Strike, and deal physical and psychic damage through Sobering Realisation.
- Ranger – Swarmkeeper: Call upon swarms like Jellyfish, Moths, or Bees to deal lightning, psychic, or piercing damage, while adding unique teleportation abilities.
- Rogue – Swashbuckler: Flaunt finesse with actions like Disarm and Blind, while Fancy Footwork ensures enemies can’t retaliate during your turn.
- Sorcerer – Shadow Magic: Harness the shadows to teleport between dimly lit spaces, summon a Hound of Ill Omen, and resist death with Strength of the Grave.
- Warlock – Hexblade: Forge pacts with shadowy entities to summon spectral warriors and inflict necrotic damage while healing through their cursed souls.
- Wizard – Bladesinging: Combine swordplay and spellcasting with abilities like Bladesong, granting supernatural speed, agility, and focus for combat precision.
These additions offer new ways to experiment with builds, strategies, and roleplaying, ensuring that there's something for every adventurer – newbie or veteran.
A Picture-Perfect Faerûn: Photo Mode
With the introduction of Photo Mode, players can capture their adventures in stunning in-game snapshots. Accessible via a hotkey (F9 on PC) or through the HUD, Photo Mode offers a range of tools for setting up the perfect shot. Adjust camera angles, lens settings and even scene composition with options to switch between party members, NPCs and enemies.
Add creative flair with over 300 stickers, cinematic frames and a range of poses, including static and animated options. Whether you want to capture a romantic moment, a dramatic battle or sheer chaos, Photo Mode has everything you need to bring your vision to life.
Future Updates
In addition, the developers have incorporated numerous bug fixes to ensure smoother gameplay and polished cinematics, including long-awaited visual updates for characters such as Shadowheart.
We have to be quite strong now: Patch 8 will be the last major content update for Baldur’s Gate 3. That might sound like a sad farewell – but honestly, what a ride it’s been. Larian didn’t just stick the landing, they built a game that’s already legendary. So really, what more could we ask for? I’d love to reflect a bit more, but my third playthrough is calling – and this time, I’m definitely not romancing Astarion again. (Probably.)